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Background : |
In the late
18th century, a newly established sultanate in Muscat signed the
first in a series of friendship treaties with Britain. Over time,
Oman's dependence on British political and military advisors
increased, but it never became a British colony. In 1970, QABOOS bin
Said al-Said overthrew the restrictive rule of his father; he has
ruled as sultan ever since. His extensive modernization program has
opened the country to the outside world while preserving the
longstanding close ties with the UK. Oman's moderate, independent
foreign policy has sought to maintain good relations with all Middle
Eastern countries. |
|
Location : |
Middle East,
bordering the Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf, between
Yemen and UAE |
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Geographic
coordinates : |
21 00 N, 57 00 E
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Area: |
total:
212,460 sq km
land: 212,460 sq km
water: 0 sq km |
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Land
boundaries : |
total:
1,374 km
border countries: Saudi Arabia 676 km, UAE 410 km, Yemen 288
km |
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Coastline : |
2,092 km
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Maritime
claims : |
territorial sea: 12
nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm |
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Climate : |
dry desert; hot,
humid along coast; hot, dry interior; strong southwest summer
monsoon (May to September) in far south |
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Terrain : |
central desert
plain, rugged mountains in north and south |
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Elevation
extremes : |
lowest point:
Arabian Sea 0 m
highest point: Jabal Shams 2,980 m |
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Natural
resources: |
petroleum,
copper, asbestos, some marble, limestone, chromium, gypsum, natural
gas |
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Land use : |
arable land:
0.12%
permanent crops: 0.14%
other: 99.74% (2005) |
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Irrigated
land : |
720 sq km (2003)
|
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Natural
hazards : |
summer winds
often raise large sandstorms and dust storms in interior; periodic
droughts |
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Environment -
international agreements: |
party to:
Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,
Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
|
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Geography -
note: |
strategic
location on Musandam Peninsula adjacent to Strait of Hormuz, a vital
transit point for world crude oil |
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Population : |
3,102,229
note: includes 577,293 non-nationals (July 2006 est.)
|
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Age structure : |
0-14 years:
42.7% (male 675,423/female 648,963)
15-64 years: 54.7% (male 1,001,917/female 695,578)
65 years and over: 2.6% (male 44,300/female 36,048) (2006
est.) |
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Median age: |
total: 19
years
male: 21.7 years
female: 16.5 years (2006 est.) |
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Population
growth rate : |
3.28% (2006 est.)
|
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Birth rate : |
36.24
births/1,000 population (2006 est.) |
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Death rate : |
3.81 deaths/1,000
population (2006 est.) |
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Net migration
rate : |
0.35 migrant(s)/1,000
population (2006 est.) |
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Sex ratio : |
at birth:
1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.44 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.23 male(s)/female
total population: 1.25 male(s)/female (2006 est.)
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Infant
mortality rate : |
total:
18.89 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 21.65 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 16 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.) |
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Life
expectancy at birth : |
total
population: 73.37 years
male: 71.14 years
female: 75.72 years (2006 est.) |
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Total
fertility rate: |
5.77 children
born/woman (2006 est.) |
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HIV/AIDS -
adult prevalence rate: |
0.1% (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS -
people living with HIV/AIDS : |
1,300 (2001 est.)
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HIV/AIDS -
deaths : |
less than 200
(2003 est.) |
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Nationality : |
noun:
Omani(s)
adjective: Omani |
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Ethnic groups : |
Arab, Baluchi,
South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi), African
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Religions : |
Ibadhi Muslim
75%, Sunni Muslim, Shi'a Muslim, Hindu |
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Languages : |
Arabic
(official), English, Baluchi, Urdu, Indian dialects |
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Literacy : |
definition:
NA
total population: 75.8%
male: 83.1%
female: 67.2% |
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Country name : |
conventional
long form: Sultanate of Oman
conventional short form: Oman
local long form: Saltanat Uman
local short form: Uman
former: Muscat and Oman |
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Government
type: |
monarchy
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Capital : |
name:
Muscat
geographic coordinates: 23 37 N, 58 35 E
time difference: UTC+4 (9 hours ahead of Washington, DC
during Standard Time) |
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Administrative
divisions : |
5 regions
(manatiq, singular - mintaqat) and 4 governorates* (muhafazat,
singular - muhafazat) Ad Dakhiliyah, Al Batinah, Al Buraymi*, Al
Wusta, Ash Sharqiyah, Az Zahirah, Masqat*, Musandam*, Zufar
(Dhofar)* |
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Independence : |
1650 (expulsion
of the Portuguese) |
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National
holiday : |
Birthday of
Sultan QABOOS, 18 November (1940) |
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Constitution : |
none; note - on 6
November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a
basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which,
among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a
prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies
doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral
legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
|
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Legal system : |
based on English
common law and Islamic law; ultimate appeal to the monarch; has not
accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction |
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Suffrage : |
in Oman's most
recent Majlis al-Shura elections in 2003, suffrage was universal for
all Omanis over age 21 except for members of the military and
security forces; the next Majlis al-Shura elections are scheduled
for 2007 |
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Executive
branch: |
chief of
state: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said al-Said (sultan
since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July 1972); note -
the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister QABOOS bin Said
al-Said (sultan since 23 July 1970 and prime minister since 23 July
1972); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary |
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Legislative
branch : |
bicameral Majlis
Oman consists of an upper chamber or Majlis al-Dawla (58 seats;
members appointed by the monarch; has advisory powers only) and a
lower chamber or Majlis al-Shura (83 seats; members elected by
popular vote for four-year terms; body has some limited power to
propose legislation, but otherwise has only advisory powers)
elections: last held 4 October 2003 (next to be held October
2007)
election results: NA |
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Judicial
branch : |
Supreme Court
note: the nascent civil court system, administered by region,
has judges who practice secular and Shari'a law |
|
Political
parties and leaders : |
none |
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Political
pressure groups and leaders : |
none |
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International
organization participation : |
ABEDA, AFESD,
AMF, FAO, G-77, GCC, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), IDA, IDB, IFAD,
IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, LAS, MIGA, NAM,
OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO,
WIPO, WMO, WTO |
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Flag
description : |
three horizontal
bands of white, red, and green of equal width with a broad,
vertical, red band on the hoist side; the national emblem (a khanjar
dagger in its sheath superimposed on two crossed swords in
scabbards) in white is centered near the top of the vertical band
|
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Economy -
overview : |
Oman is a
middle-income economy in the Middle East with notable oil and gas
resources, a substantial trade surplus, and low inflation. Sustained
high oil prices in recent years have helped build Oman's budget and
trade surpluses and foreign reserves. Oman joined the World Trade
Organization in November 2000 and continues to liberalize its
markets. To reduce unemployment and limit dependence on foreign
labor, the government is encouraging the replacement of foreign
expatriate workers with local workers. Oman actively seeks private
foreign investors, especially in the industrial, information
technology, tourism, and higher education fields. Industrial
development plans focus on gas resources, metal manufacturing,
petrochemicals, and international transshipment ports. |
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GDP
(purchasing power parity) : |
$43.88 billion
(2006 est.) |
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GDP (official
exchange rate) : |
$27.23 billion
(2006 est.) |
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GDP - real
growth rate: |
6.5% (2006 est.)
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GDP - per
capita (PPP) : |
$14,100 (2006
est.) |
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GDP -
composition by sector : |
agriculture:
2.6%
industry: 38.8%
services: 58.7% (2006 est.) |
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Labor force: |
920,000 (2002
est.) |
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Labor force -
by occupation : |
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA% |
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Unemployment
rate : |
15% (2004 est.)
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Population
below poverty line: |
NA% |
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Household
income or consumption by percentage share: |
lowest 10%:
NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate
(consumer prices): |
2% (2006 est.)
|
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Investment
(gross fixed) : |
14.2% of GDP
(2006 est.) |
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Budget : |
revenues:
$14.33 billion
expenditures: $12.81 billion; including capital expenditures
of $NA (2006 est.) |
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Public debt : |
4.5% of GDP (2006
est.) |
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Agriculture -
products : |
dates, limes,
bananas, alfalfa, vegetables; camels, cattle; fish |
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Industries : |
crude oil
production and refining, natural and liquefied natural gas (LNG)
production; construction, cement, copper, steel, chemicals, optic
fiber |
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Industrial
production growth rate : |
5.9% (2006 est.)
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Electricity -
production : |
14.33 billion kWh
(2004) |
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Electricity -
production by source : |
fossil fuel:
100%
hydro: 0%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001) |
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Electricity -
consumption: |
13.33 billion kWh
(2004) |
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Electricity -
exports : |
0 kWh (2004)
|
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Electricity -
imports : |
0 kWh (2004)
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Oil -
production : |
769,000 bbl/day
(2005 est.) |
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Oil -
consumption: |
60,000 bbl/day
(2004 est.) |
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Oil - exports : |
721,000 bbl/day
(2004) |
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Oil - imports : |
NA bbl/day
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Oil - proved
reserves: |
4.7 billion bbl
(2006 est.) |
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Natural gas -
production: |
17.2 billion cu m
(2004 est.) |
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Natural gas -
consumption: |
6.77 billion cu m
(2004 est.) |
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Natural gas -
exports: |
10.43 billion cu
m (2004 est.) |
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Natural gas -
imports: |
0 cu m (2004
est.) |
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Natural gas -
proved reserves: |
829.1 billion cu
m (1 January 2005 est.) |
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Current
account balance: |
$7.097 billion
(2006 est.) |
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Exports: |
$24.73 billion
f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Exports -
commodities: |
petroleum,
reexports, fish, metals, textiles |
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Exports -
partners: |
China 21.6%,
South Korea 19.3%, Japan 14.2%, Thailand 12.6%, UAE 7.1%, Taiwan
4.1% (2005) |
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Imports: |
$10.29 billion
f.o.b. (2006 est.) |
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Imports -
commodities: |
machinery and
transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, livestock, lubricants
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Imports -
partners: |
UAE 22.4%, Japan
15.7%, UK 7.7%, US 6.7%, Germany 5.8%, India 4.2% (2005)
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Reserves of
foreign exchange and gold: |
$4.908 billion
(2006 est.) |
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Debt -
external: |
$4.259 billion
(2006 est.) |
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Economic aid -
recipient: |
$76.4 million
(1995) |
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Currency
(code): |
Omani rial (OMR)
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Currency code: |
OMR |
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Exchange
rates: |
Omani rials per
US dollar - 0.3845 (2006), 0.3845 (2005), 0.3845 (2004), 0.3845
(2003), 0.3845 (2002) |
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Fiscal year: |
calendar year
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Telephones -
main lines in use: |
265,200 (2005)
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Telephones -
mobile cellular: |
1.333 million
(2005) |
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Telephone
system: |
general
assessment: modern system consisting of open-wire, microwave,
and radiotelephone communication stations; limited coaxial cable
domestic: open-wire, microwave, radiotelephone
communications, and a domestic satellite system with 8 earth
stations
international: country code - 968; satellite earth stations -
2 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Arabsat |
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Radio
broadcast stations: |
AM 3, FM 9,
shortwave 2 (1999) |
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Radios: |
1.4 million
(1997) |
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Television
broadcast stations: |
13 (plus 25
low-power repeaters) (1999) |
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Televisions: |
1.6 million
(1997) |
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Internet
country code: |
.om |
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Internet
hosts: |
3,555 (2006)
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Internet
Service Providers (ISPs): |
1 (2000)
|
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Internet
users: |
245,000 (2005)
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Airports: |
137 (2006)
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Airports -
with paved runways: |
total: 6
over 3,047 m: 4
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2006) |
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Airports -
with unpaved runways: |
total: 131
over 3,047 m: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 7
1,524 to 2,437 m: 52
914 to 1,523 m: 35
under 914 m: 35 (2006) |
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Heliports: |
1 (2006)
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Pipelines: |
gas 4,072 km; oil
3,405 km (2006) |
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Roadways: |
total:
34,965 km
paved: 9,673 km (including 550 km of expressways)
unpaved: 25,292 km (2001) |
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Merchant
marine: |
total: 1
ship (1000 GRT or over) 10,797 GRT/5,040 DWT
by type: passenger 1
registered in other countries: 2 (Kazakhstan 2) (2006)
|
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Ports and
terminals: |
Mina' Qabus,
Salalah |
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Military
branches: |
Royal Omani Armed
Forces: Royal Army of Oman, Royal Navy of Oman, Royal Air Force of
Oman (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman, RAFO) (2006)
|
|
Military
service age & obligation |
18 years of age
for voluntary military service (2001) |
|
Manpower
available for military service: |
males age
18-49: 719,871
females age 18-49: 508,621 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower fit
for military service: |
males age
18-49: 581,444
females age 18-49: 435,107 (2005 est.) |
|
Manpower
reaching military service age annually: |
males age
18-49: 26,391
females age 18-49: 25,466 (2005 est.) |
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Military
expenditures - dollar figure: |
$252.99 million
(2004) |
|
Military
expenditures - percent of GDP: |
11.4% (2003) |
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Disputes -
international: |
boundary
agreement reportedly signed and ratified with UAE in 2003 for entire
border, including Oman's Musandam Peninsula and Al Madhah exclave,
but details have not been made public |
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